Automobile-lamp-dimming device



F. E. SPELMAN.

AUTOMOBiLE LAMP DIMMING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1920.

1,873,209, Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

uNiru series.

FRANK E. SPELMAN, OF MAIDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO WILLIAM ONEILL OF BOSTON, IvEASSAOHUSETTS.

AUTOMOBILE-LAMP-DIWTMING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Application filed February 12, 1920. Serial No. 358,105.

T 0 all in ham it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. SrnLMAN,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at characters on the drawings representing like parts. V

The invention to be herelnafter described relates to devices for dimming the lamps of automobiles. It is desirable to be able promptly to dim the powerful head lamps of automobiles, in order that per- 1 sons may not be blinded by the glare therefrom. For example, when two automobiles are passing each other, it is found that if the head lamps are not dimmed or extinguished, the drivers of the automobiles will be so blinded that they cannot safely pass each other. and cities, it is desirable to dim the head lamps, in order that persons may not b blinded by the glare therefrom.

Heretofore, devices have been provided for dimming the head lamps, but these have been of a complicated character, expensive to manufacture and install, and requiring the operator to move to an awkward posi tion to operate the same,-and requiring him to distract his attentlon from the control of. the automobile.

One of the purposes ofthe present invention, therefore, is to provide simple and efiicicnt means whereby the head lamps may be dimmed conveniently and expeditiously.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a dimming attachment or device which may be readily applied to lighting systems already installed and in use with- Also, in passing through towns position. The foot operated device may be conveniently located adjacent. the foot controls of the car, so that the foot may be readily shifted from one of said controls to the foot operated device for operating the same when desired.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a dimming device which may be conveniently operated momentarily to dim the head lamps while automobiles are passing one another in opposite directions, the

construction being such that the full strength of the head lamps may be brought into play merely on release of pressure of the foot on the device.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby on slight manipulation of the foot the dimming device may be locked in a position to maintain the lamps in dimmed condition while the automobile is passing through towns or cities, the construction being such that by very slight manipulation of the foot, the device may be unlocked so as to bring the fullstrength of the head lamps into play again.

l Vith the aforesaid and other purposes in Fig. t is a vertical transverse section.

through the foot treadle operated means shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 of Fig.4; and V Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail to be referred to. i

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, 1 designates the floor in front ofthe drivers seat of an automobile provided with usual controls including the clutch treadle 3, the brake treadle the accelerator treadle 7, and the gear shift lever 9. On the dash 11 is the usual switch board 13 having a switch 15 for controlling the dash and tail lamps, the switch 17 for controlling the head lamps, the switch 19 for controlling the side lamps, and the switch 21 for controlling the igni tion.

Referring to Fig. 2, a pair of head lamps 23 may be connected to a suitable lighting system, in the present instance, comprising a battery 25 or other suitable source of electricity connected by a conductor 27 with a contact 29 on a plate 31 supplying electrical current to the contacts controlled by the switches 15, 17, 19 and 21 referred to, for controlling the lamps and the ignition. Since the electrical connections and circuits for said lamps and ignition are well known in the art, it is unnecessary to show and describe the same in detail herein, but merely so much of a lighting system asillustrated, in order to enable ready understanding of the application of the invention thereto. Coiiperating with the side lights switch 19 is a contact 33 connected by a conductor with the side lamps 37, connected in turn by a conductor 39 with the tail lamp 41. A conductor 43 leading from the tail lamp 41 may be grounded on the chassis of the automobile, and the circuit therefrom to the battery may be completed by a conductor grounded on the chassis and connected. to the battery.

To supply current to the head lamps, a contact 47 may be provided on the plate 31, and cooperating with the head lamp switch 17. The conductor 49 is usually connected with the contact 47 and is provided with branch conductors 51 leading to the head lamps. The circuit for the head lamps may be completed by conductors 53 grounded on the chassis. The system thus far described may be of usual construction well understood in the art.

The dimming attachment shown herein as one good form of the invention, comprises a casing conveniently in the form of a metal box 55 having an open side which may be closed by an insulation cover 57 (Fig. 4) detachably secured to the box by screws 59.

Mounted on the cover 57 are a post 61 and a post 63 of brass or other suitable conducting material. These posts may have reduced ends projecting through the cover 57 and provided with lock nuts 65 and binding nuts 67. A conductor 69 may be at- 49 referred to, may be detached from the contact 47. Then the conductor 69 may be connected to the contact 47, and the conductor 71 may be connected to the conductor 49. The post 61 may have a switch arm 73 pivotally mounted thereon and urged into contact with the post 63 by a coil spring 75 encircling the post 61, and having one end anchored to the switch arm 73, and its opposite end anchored to the cover 57.

When the switch arm is held by the spring 75 into contact with the post 63, the electrical current may flow along the conductor 69 through the post 61, along the switch arm 73, through the post 63, and thence through the conductor 71 to the conductor 49, and through the branch conductors 51 to the lamps 23. Therefore, when the switch arm is in contact with the post 63, the full strength of the electrical current will pass to said lamps.

In order to dim the lamps, a resistance coil 77 may be provided having one end attached to the post 61 and its opposite end attached to the post 63 conveniently closely adjacent to the insulation cover 57. When the switch arm is moved out of contact with the post 63, the electrical current will flow through the conductor 69 to the post 61, and the resistance coil 77 to the post 63, and flow thence through the conductor 71 to the conductor 49 and the branch conductors 51 to the lamps 23, thereby dimming said lamps.

Suitable means may be provided formoving the switch arm 73 out of contact with the post 63 at the times desired. This means, in the present instance of the invention, is in the form of a foot treadle 79 having a stud 81 projecting through a boss 83 on the top of the casing 55 and provided with a thimble 85 of insulation material on the lower end thereof adapted for engagement with the upper edge of the switch arm 73. The treadle 79 will be held down by gravity to maintain the thimble 85 in engagement with the switch arm.

When it is desired to dim the lamps, the foot treadle 79 may be engaged by the foot of the driver and depressed to move the switch arm 73 out of contact with the post 63, thereby causing the current to flow through the resistance coil 77. On release of the foot treadle, the coil spring 75 will rock the switch arm into contact with the post 63 and move the foot treadle upward to its original position.

As stated, when the automobile is passing through towns or cities, it may be desirable to dim the lamps for a substantial length of time. To enable this to be accomplished without continued pressure of the foot on the treadle 79, a suitable locking means may be provided to hold the treadle in its depressed position, causing the switch arm to be held out of contact with the post 63.

This means, in the present instance, is in the form of a pin 87 extending through the treadle stud 81 and. adapted to move up and down in holes 89in the top of the casing when said pin 87 is in registration therewith. 1 After the foot treadle has been depressed, the foot of the driver may be given a slight rotary motion on the treadle 79, thereby causing the stud 81 to turn and move the pin 87 out of registration with the holes 89. Then the pin 87 will engage the under surface of the top of the casing, and prevent upward movement of the treadle and prevent engagement of the switch arm 73 with the post 63. Segmental recesses 91 may be formed in the under side of the top of the casing to cooperate with the pin 87 and limit the extent of rotary movement of the treadle stud 81, so that the pin may be closely adjacent to the holes 89 and be returned into registration therewith on slight rotary movement of the foot on the treadle. Thus, by slight movements of the foot, the treadle may be locked in position to hold the switch arm out of con tact with the post 68, or to allow return of the switch arm into contact with the post 63 as desired.

The box 55 may be mounted wherever most convenient for the driver of the automobile. In the present instance, it is shown as located directly tovthe left of the clutch control treadle 3 (Fig. 1). Suitable means may be provided to secure the box 55 to the floor 1 in this position. This means, in the present instance, comprises a pair of ears 93 projecting from the casing and adapted to receive screws 95, so that the casing can be securely held in the position desired.

The dimming attachment device may be very readily attached to standard lighting systems without substantial alteration thereof. As illustrated, it is merely necessary to disconnect one of the conductors from a con tact on the usual switch board, and to connect one of the conductors of the attachment to said contact, and the other conductor of the attachment to the conductor disconnected as described. Then upon securing the treadle box in position, the device is in readiness for operation to dim the lamps as described.

An important advantage in the device is the facility with which the lamps may be momentarily dimmed while automobiles are passing each other in opposite directions. As stated, to accomplish this, it is merely necessary momentarily to press the treadle with the foot to dim the lamps, and upon release of the foot, the full strength of the current on the lamps may be automatically brought into play.

It will be understood that the invention plate of insulation material secured to said is not limited to the specific embodimentshown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is z 1. In an electric lighting system for automobiles, the combination of a. casing, means tosecuresaid casing to a part of an auto-v mobile adjacent the foot of the driver, a

casing, a pair of posts carried by said plate and projecting into said casing, means for connecting said posts into the electric circuit for the lighting system, a dimming resistance in said casing connected to said posts, a switch for said posts having spring means normally to cause the electric current to pass from one post, through said switch to the other post for intense light, and a foot operated treadle on said casing supported by said switch and adapted on depression thereof to move said switch to a position to cause the current to flow through the dimming resistance.

2. In an electric lighting system for automobiles, the combination of a casing for location in an automobile adjacent the foot of the driver, contacts projecting into said casing and adapted to be connected into the circuit for the lighting system, a light dimming resistance connecting said contacts, a switch cooperating with said contacts and having spring means to cause the electric current to pass through the switch to furnish bright light, a foot operated treadle for moving the switch to position to cause the current to pass through the resistance, and means operable on manipulation of said foot treadle to lock the switch in the latter position.

3. In an electric lighting system for automobiles, the combination of a casing adapted to be mounted at a point adjacent the foot controls of an automobile, fixed contacts mounted in said casing and adapted for introduction into the electric lamp circuit, a dimming resistance mounted in said casing and connected to said contacts, a switch cooperating with said contacts and having spring means to move the switch to position normally to cause the electric current to flow through said switch to furnish bright light, and a treadle on said casing operable by the foot of the automobile driver to move the switch to cause the current to pass through the resistance and dim the lamps.

4. In an electric lighting system for automobiles, the combination of a pair of lamps,

a source of electricity, an electric circuit connecting said source of electricity with said lamps, a switch in said circuit manually operable for o ening and closing said circuit to extinguish or light said lamps, a casing adapted to be located adjacent the foot light, and a foot operated treadle on said casing for moving said switch into position 10 to interrupt How of the electric current therethrough, and cause the same to flow through the dimming resistance.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK E. SPELMAN. 

